EEPC v6 Killed Windows XP

I've been trialing McAfee Endpoint Encryption for the past few days. After having some initial trouble installing ePO v4.5, and getting hold of McAfee Agent v4.5, I've finally been able to deploy EEPC v6 to a client machine. I followed http://community.mcafee.com/blogs/danlarson/2009/11/30/unofficial-quickstart-guide-for-mcafee-eepc-v... and the deployment seemed to go OK. I setup the policies, then deployed Endpoint Encryption Agent for Windows 1.x followed by Endpoint Encryption for PC 6.x. The deployment happened, and the agent asked to reboot. Once rebooted, I logged back into Windows, and the Endpoint Encryption status showed as inactive, watching the McAfee Agent status I watched it pull down the policy settings, and the Endpoint Encryption status switched to active, and encryption began. So, to test every scenario, and knowing users would do this, I decided to reboot again, part way through the drive encryption - something EEPC should support, as it had no problem with this when it was SafeBoot. After rebooting, I got the pre-boot McAfee screen, asking me to login, which I did, and was then asked to set my 3 recovery questions, which I did. Windows then began to load, I had the Windows XP boot screen, with the little loading bar, then it flicked away just as it does before presenting the Window GUI screen, but that never loaded, instead I just have a blank screen, nothing is happening. I've rebooted, and can boot into Windows Safe Mode, which seems to work OK. However, when I reboot again, and try to load Windows proper, I just get this blank screen.

Re: EEPC v6 Killed Windows XP

I ran a full chkdsk (the one where it reboots and checks before starting Windows) before installing EEPC and every thing seemed OK, no errors returned.

These IBM laptops do have a 4gb FAT32 partition at the end of the drive, where they hold IBM service tools (diagnostic programs & a Windows image for reinstalling). Could it be this partition thats causing the problem? I didn't think EEPC had any issues with multiple partitions!

Can't Get EEPC to Encrypt

I formatted the laptop, and redeployed EEPC, but now it just won't encrypt the drive. I've gone through the unofficial blog on how to deploy line by line, added users to the system, everything, but EEPC just sits in an inactive state, saying 'no volume information'. I've clicked 'check new policies', 'enforce policies', 'collect and send props'. The McAfee agent says the ASCI event has started, but nothing happens.

Re: Can't Get EEPC to Encrypt

I finally got EEPC to begin encrypting, seemed to just start working not long after I posted the log file. Again, I rebooted, and Windows would not load. This was a clean Windows install, with no other software, after performing a full disk scan.

Again, I have wiped the drive, this time also removing the 4gb IBM partition, started the Windows install, and used the entire vloume, formatted as NTFS, and installed WinXP SP3. Once it was installed, I pushed out the McAfee agent, and EEPC agents, this time with out issue. The agents asked to reboot, after which encryption began within a few minutes. However, after encryption had reached 3 bars, I decided to perform a test reboot, and once again, I login to EEPC pre-boot, Windows tried to load, with the XP logo, and status bar, then it flicks away as if to bring up the XP GUI, but nothing happens, its just a completely blank screen! Again, I can login to Safe mode OK, so it seems to be normal Windows mode that fails. I have also tried 'last known good configuration' which fails with the blank screen.

So, I don't think its a hard disk issue, having done a full disk scan. I also don't think its an IBM partition issue, as this has now been wiped, and the drive partitioned into 1 NTFS volume.

As Windows boots fine with the McAfee & EEPC agents installed, but before the encryption has begun, I can only assume that something in the encryption process is stopping Windows from loading correctly!

Not sure how to diagnose this issue further! Any help/suggestions would be appreciated!